TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. 97 



Should even there be a full crop next year, prices will not be forced down 

 again very soon. If the crop should be short, prices will go way up. So, 

 in any event, next year bids fair to be the most prosperous one to the 

 trade we have ever had; and the man or company who engages in the 

 business with industry and economy will surely be a reaper in the general 

 prosperity certain to follow. 



Thursday Morning Session. 



At the opening of the last session, Mr. N. A, Beechee of Flushing read 

 the subjoined paper upon 



INFLUENCE OF THE STOCK AND GRAFT. 



This is no new subject, I am well aware ; and yet, when we consider that 

 the union of the two is to become the foundation of the orchard, and that 

 we as horticulturists, and all admirers of fruit, are more or less dependent 

 upon this relationship, this union, for the best known and choicest varie- 

 ties of the apple, pear, jieach, plum, and some of our smaller fruits, it is a 

 question of great magnitude and importance. 



In selecting the stock and scion of the different species to be propagated, 

 it is as necessary that we study the character of the two to be united, as to 

 what is desired in the plant and fruit, as though we were about to engage 

 in the propagation and perpetuation of the choicest breeds of horses, cattle, 

 sheep, and swine. 



A point once gained by judicious selection, in this way, becomes fixed, 

 and upon it we may enter with safety. By this process, this law of 

 assimilation combining health, strength, vigor, and hardiness, we are able 

 to multiply and perpetuate the choicest selections of fruit. It has long 

 been known that the Red Canada and some other varieties do not do well 

 when root-grafted; and the experienced fruitgrower could not be induced 

 to plant such an orchard, even at a gift price. 



The question of stocks has sometimes come up in our local societies and 

 we have sought for practical experience among our members and those in 

 attendance, but have never been able to secure all the information desired, 

 notwithstanding the valuable knowledge often sought and found in our 

 much esteemed horticultural publications. 



Ever since the severe winter of 1874-5, and especially the winter of 

 1884-5, there has been a laudable anxiety among practical fruitgrowers to 

 know the best stock upon which to graft some of our leading commercial, 

 tender varieties, especially the Baldwin, King, and R. I. Greening, with 

 view to making them more hardy if possible. 



Allow me to digress a little here, by saying that the winter of 1874-75 

 froze my Baldwins, Kings, Esopus Spitzenburgs, Peck's Pleasant, Swaars, 

 and Porters dead to the snow line, while the R. I. Greening and some 

 others were black-hearted and worthless. 



The Boston or Roxbury Russet I discarded from the nursery before the 

 cold winter of 1874-75, not knowing that freezing was the trouble. The 

 severe winter of 1884-5, ten years later, cleaned out our x^each trees quite 

 generally, while dead and dying fruit trees were found the following 



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